H
eld in January 2011 THE NEXT COOL THING was the brainchild of organizer Barbara English, founder of TO THE TRADE ONLY, and the executive board of Georgia Production Partnership (GPP), the prominent Georgia organization of the film & television community. Today, the Georgia Tax Incentives play a major role in bringing more of the entertainment industry to Georgia. Since the adoption of a state incentives policy, industry professionals have been scrambling to prove the infrastructure to support exploding film production is here. Creating awareness of the available resources in Georgia was the mission of this event. In order for production companies to take full advantage of the Georgia tax incentives, local suppliers of goods and services must be in place. The huge interior design industry in the state already exists and many suppliers to that industry are now looking to tailor their inventory and policies to become “film friendly” to capture this growing market. As with the new Camera Ready Program, locations and municipalities are setting legal guidelines and permitting procedures in place for location shoots. The program has stimulated interest all over Georgia. More counties are registering with the film office every month as ‘Camera Ready’ to better market their great locations to shoot. Resources targeted to the art department are lining up to do the same. The exploding interest in using Georgia as the location to shoot indie, documentary and feature films sparked the expansive variety of participants in THE NEXT COOL THING. Rather than a standard tradeshow, THE NEXT COOL THING was designed to inspire industry professionals to see the possibilities of the creative process in action. Each resource was creatively challenged and positioned to show off its talents and wares based on an exhibit inspired by a movie or television theme. This past event required prop houses, artisans, design and furnishing show rooms, construction craftsmen and suppliers to create sets inspired by the entertainment industry itself. To participate, exhibitors were required to submit an artist rendering for consideration to be placed at the event. The themes ran from “Psycho” to “Mommy Dearest,” “Interview with a Vampire,” “Sex and the City,” “Moulin Rouge” to “Auntie Mame.” There were over forty collaborative exhibits. Each themed set was created, constructed and installed under a one-week deadline in time for the weekend kick off Red Carpet cocktail event on Friday, January 21st. Members of the residential design/build community and several set designers already working in the entertainment industry completed the set construction. Suppliers of the interior design and event design industries furnished exhibits. Many union and non-union set producers, prop houses, and creators of specialty lighting, sound and effects were also involved. “The unique collaboration of members of all three industries was an amazing thing to watch in action,” said Barbara, “as they each influenced and introduced each other to their unique method of production. I think everyone really learned a lot and they could see the opportunity of working together more in the future.” Where will you be in 2012? For information on the next, even cooler event contact Barbara English at concierge@tothetradeonly.com Opportunities to showcase your location, your business and your creativity will soon be made available.
“The unique collaboration of members of all three industries was an amazing thing to watch in action,” 15